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For many visitors and even many expats who’ve lived in Costa Rica for years, the country’s capital, San José, remains a very utilitarian destination, so to speak. As the commercial center, it’s the place go for the best shopping in the country. If you can get it in Costa Rica, it’s in San José. And as the governmental center, when you’re going through the residence process…you end up in San José.
Before moving to South America in 2008, I worked independently and couldn’t afford health insurance. Here in Colombia, where health care costs are low, I used to pay out of pocket for medications and basic services, such as a dental checkup, which costs around $25. Even so, I often went without the care I needed to avoid extra expenses.
Housing costs can take up a large chunk of your monthly budget, but there are expat havens around the world where your rent could be $500 per month or less. When it comes to getting more bang-for-your-buck, we have found five places where rent is so affordable, you’ll have money left over to indulge in the finer things...
Hitting milestones in anyone’s life can be pretty amazing. Big or small, they give us a reason to celebrate. I keep careful track of my stock photography images, as well as the sites I list them on in hopes of a new sale, so when I recently passed the 15,000 image mark, I was ecstatic. Read more...: How I Turned Photography Into an Income That Funds My Travel
The decision to retire abroad is not something that should be taken lightly. For many people it’s the best decision they’ve ever made—the adventure of a lifetime. And their only regret is that they didn’t make the move sooner. While other people just can’t adapt to life in a new country. How do you figure into which camp you fall...
For decades Costa Rica has been among the world’s premier retirement destinations. It still is. Chuck and his wife Anna launched their Pura Vida lifestyle in 2012. They sought a mild climate, better healthcare, amazing views, and lots to do…and all at a lower cost of living. You’ll find established and welcoming expat communities all across the country. It’s easy to make friends to explore the jungle with, or to share an ice-cold, two-buck Pilsen beer while watching the sun set from a beach.
Many people have an outdated perspective of life in Colombia. The dark days of Pablo Escobar and the drug cartels that are still portrayed in the Netflix series Narcos, are long gone. However, the question of safety in Colombia remains constant. So, from someone who has lived in the country since 2012, let’s get right Read more...: Safety in Colombia
The 2014 Fast Track Costa Rica Conference is over and done with - and as expected, it was a roaring success. I'd wager the people who attended this conference were people who had read and heard about Costa Rica's breath-taking natural beauty, very affordable cost of living, and the Pura Vida lifestyle—and were interested in seeing if it's somewhere where they could enjoy a happier retirement for less than what they are paying at home.
The very best way to enjoy the culture of any country is by being able to speak the language. And fortunately, Spanish is one of the easiest languages to quickly pick up. You don't have to be fluent. You don't need to be perfect every single time. But you do need to master a few basics...
More affordable air travel, mounting health care costs in developed countries, long waiting lists and an ageing world population have all contributed to a global explosion of medical tourism in the past decade—and Malaysia is leagues ahead in terms of its world market share.